Gov’t spends over D48 million on prisoners

The
Gambia government spent a total of D48,541,813 to feed prisoners and pay
salaries of prison wardens in 2016.

“The
government spent forty eight million, five hundred and forty one thousand,
eight hundred and thirteen dalasis and ninety bututs on the Prisons Department
from January 1 to December 31, 2016,” said Mai Ahmad Fatty, the minister of the
interior.

Of
the total amount spent on the prisons department, the minister said D22,622,123
was on salaries, and D25,919,690 on food for the prisoners.

Minister
Fatty said the department of prisons did not receive any funding for
medication; all medications are provided by the Ministry of Health.

He
made this remark recently while answering questions at the National Assembly as
part of the second ordinary session of the Assembly in the Legislative Year
2017.

Responding
to the question of Hon. Ousman Sillah of Banjul North, the minister said that
the condition and location of the state central, Mile II, is unacceptable.

Hon.
Sillah stressed, in his question, that Mile II is close to the Banjul dumpsite
which poses great health risk to the prisoners.

But
the interior minister said the government has plans to build a modern prison
and Mile II will be closed once a new prison is built.

Fatty
said already, the government is working to effectively manage and improve
conditions in all prisons and detention centres in the country.